Should I just give up?

TCsbride · July 2009

DD is only 2 months old and I've had A LOT happen. First she was in the NICU for 12 days, and couldn't direct breastfeed for 11 days, so I pumped. Did great and was getting about 6 oz a feeding. Two days after she came, I returned the hospital grade pump AND got mastisis that day. Pumped all the way through it and it was about a week before we started trying to breastfeed again, but my supply drastically dropped to 1-2 oz a session and she got frustrated at the breast. Finally got up to 3 oz per pumping, got her breastfeeding well again after another 7 wks and now what.....I have thrush. I've had it for about two weeks and just thought she was latching wrong. It looked right, tried everything, but it still hurt like hell, and the cracking and bleeding are horrible. When the pedi said she had a yeast rash it dawned on me.....I have thrush!

Going to call the OB tomorrow to get checked and hopefully some medicine. But I'm seriously about done with feeding. Its not enough to feed her breastmilk exclusivley anyway (only about 50% of what she drinks and she's not taking an of it right now, I'm assuming b/c of the thrush? I totally just feel like quitting at this point. I wanted to feed for 6 months, but I'm not sure I can take this anymore....

kds24 · July 2009

Oh gosh, that is a lot to go through, I'm sorry!

One of my friends has a good saying for BFing and that is to not quit on a bad day. You have been though a lot in such a short period of time and I can't even imagine how frustrating that must be. No matter what you decide your daughter will be just fine and you've done so much for her already, much more than most women would do. I've seen it go both ways (people having a lot of issues and then it getting better and BFing just fine and people stopping and things being just fine). GL!

Sharra711 · July 2009

I also second the "don't quit on a bad day" that's what I tell myself.

Hang in there, and GL!!!!! HUGS!

Mrslove78 · July 2009

WOW! That really sucks!!!

Try giving up nursing and just pump for now? BF is seriousley a great thing! Recently LO got sick from daycare and gave it to us, WE ended up in the ER so sick with 104 temps. LO was fine after not much... I am sure that if I'd been formula feeding DS would have been hospitalized. I'm so glad I was BFing, and it's renewed my reasons to continue.

gusabbey · July 2009

Dont give up! I'm a proud (and happy) pumper. I had a lot of problems with mastitis as well. But things have settled down as my supply has leveled off and we are very happy. I am able to BF my baby once a day, as I really wanted to BF, but I found it was more stress than its worth. But as my mother says "whatever works for you...theres no sense in making life more difficult than it already is right now....what difference do these things make in 5 years?" Pretty sound advice if you ask me! Good luck mama!

J Bean · July 2009

One of my best friends overcame a bad, painful latch, a clogged duct, and thrush while nursing her DS. It got easier and she was so glad that she hung in there. I had really terrible engorgement early on and latch issues with DD. When she wasn't gaining enough weight, I had to nurse her, my husband would then give her EBM in a bottle as a chaser, and I would pump at the same time. I am really glad I stuck with it and am almost to my one year goal.

You can of course make whatever choice feels right to you. A happy mama makes for a happy baby. I just wanted to let you know that other mamas have gotten through rough patches too!

Good luck!

carmenlarue · July 2009

Wow, it is a lot to go through, but you should pump and continue on until she can come back to you to BF. I stopped for two weeks because she wouldnt latch on and was sooo disappointed until the doc said my milk was still there, so you might feel differently if you stop and your milk isn;t there. Keep going chica!

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